https://jslhr.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1833585The Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation on the Speech Motor SystemPurpose Chronic deep brain stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius is an effective treatment for individuals with medication-resistant essential tremor. However, these individuals report that stimulation has a deleterious effect on their speech. The present study investigates one important factor leading to these effects: the coordination of oral and glottal ...2014-08-01T00:00:00Research ArticleDoris Mücke

PurposeChronic deep brain stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius is an effective treatment for individuals with medication-resistant essential tremor. However, these individuals report that stimulation has a deleterious effect on their speech. The present study investigates one important factor leading to these effects: the coordination of oral and glottal articulation.

MethodSixteen native-speaking German adults with essential tremor, between 26 and 86 years old, with and without chronic deep brain stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius and 12 healthy, age-matched subjects were recorded performing a fast syllable repetition task (/papapa/, /tatata/, /kakaka/). Syllable duration and voicing-to-syllable ratio as well as parameters related directly to consonant production, voicing during constriction, and frication during constriction were measured.

ResultsVoicing during constriction was greater in subjects with essential tremor than in controls, indicating a perseveration of voicing into the voiceless consonant. Stimulation led to fewer voiceless intervals (voicing-to-syllable ratio), indicating a reduced degree of glottal abduction during the entire syllable cycle. Stimulation also induced incomplete oral closures (frication during constriction), indicating imprecise oral articulation.

ConclusionThe detrimental effect of stimulation on the speech motor system can be quantified using acoustic measures at the subsyllabic level.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG), Clinical Research Group 219 (KFO 219), to Lars Timmermann. We thank the participants with essential tremor for their participation in this study. We also thank Mohammad Maarouf (Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne), who implemented the deep brain stimulation in the individuals diagnosed with essential tremor.

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